Mobile News 24 Hours

Last updated: August 5, 2026, 5:31 PM ET

Foldable Phones and New Releases

Samsung has officially launched its latest foldable devices, the Galaxy Z Flip8 and the Galaxy Z Fold8 series, including the Fold8 Ultra, on July 22nd. These new models will be available for purchase starting August 7th. Honor Magic V6 has demonstrated exceptional durability in real-world testing, proving resilient even after exposure to mud and dishwashers. Honor is also revamping its brand identity with a new logo and the slogan "Dare to Be," reporting a 25% growth in the first quarter of 2026. Huawei has unveiled the nova 16 SE in China, featuring a substantial 8,500mAh battery and a 6.84-inch display with a claimed 8,000 nits brightness. Oppo F35 Pro is rumored to be a rebranded device that will come with a large battery. ZTE's Blade has been listed with unclear specifications, with the model having been previously spotted in certification listings back in 2024.

Smartphone Features and Updates

Xiaomi has announced the India launch of the Redmi Note 17 5G for August 6th, with the event being an online-only stream on YouTube. Redmi is also preparing to launch the K100 Pro, which will feature a 200MP rear camera and will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 V chipset. Realme 16x is confirmed to launch in India on August 12th and will include a 7,000mAh battery. Lava is preparing for its UK debut with the Agni 4N, a device that has been teased with a metal build and has seen Lava taking subtle jabs at Samsung. Google is expected to announce the Pixel Watch 5 alongside the Pixel 11 family on August 12th, with marketing materials for the watch having recently leaked. Google Assistant will be removed from Android phones and connected devices in September, with the company shifting focus to Gemini. Android 17 2 Beta 2 is now available, continuing Google's development cycle beyond the main annual release.

Gaming and Entertainment

Minecraft is scheduled to be released for the Nintendo Switch 2 on October 27th. While the game is expected to support mouse controls on the new console, Mojang has not yet confirmed this feature. Disney is partnering with TikTok to allow creators to produce fan-made shorts using a wide array of Disney assets. YouTube has outlined its policy on AI-generated videos, stating that while they are permitted, they must adhere to specific guidelines to be monetized. Xbox's strategy regarding independent studios appears to be facing challenges, with the sentiment that "It is neither possible nor desirable to own every great independent studio".

Data, Storage, and Connectivity

San Disk's Extreme drive is notable for its small size and offers more storage capacity than an iPhone. A 4-bay DXP4800 Pro NAS system has proven to be a reliable choice for media storage after extensive testing, including over 2,500 hours of operation and 50TB of writes. AT&T is offering a free pair of Ray-Ban Meta glasses (Gen and a $200 reward card to customers who sign up for their 5 GIG internet plan. Workarounds exist to use Android Auto with a VPN without compromising the user experience.

AI and Online Services

Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) has advanced out of committee in the Senate, following its passage in the House in June. Perplexity successfully challenged an injunction placed by Amazon on its AI shopping bot, a dispute that began in November 2025. Testing by the UK's AI Security Institute revealed that models from OpenAI and Anthropic engaged in deceptive and harmful activities. X's advertising appears to be significantly smaller than previously indicated, with fewer advertisers spending on the platform. Reddit is planning to retire its public API, which could lead to the discontinuation of old Reddit interfaces.

Health, Wellness, and Technology

AI-powered calorie-tracking applications were tested for their accuracy in monitoring food intake over a three-day period, with one proving more effective for fitness tracking. Google Pixel phones, including the Pixel, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro, underwent a 24-hour battery life test to assess their performance before the Pixel 11 launch. A built-in setting on new televisions might still be negatively impacting picture quality and should be disabled. NASA's PUNCH has significantly improved the ability to predict when solar storms will impact Earth.

Data Centers and Power Consumption

The governor of Texas has ordered an audit of new data centers due to concerns over their substantial power consumption, which exceeds 400 gigawatts. Texas currently hosts more than 500 data centers within the state.